Jenny Willott MP

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HOME OFFICE 101 'TOOLKIT' STILL NOT PUBLISHED - WILLOTT

February 26, 2008 12:00 AM

Today, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, discovered that the Home Office still hasn't published its 'toolkit' designed to encourage and advise local areas to establish locally funded 101 services.

The information was revealed in answer to a Parliamentary Question from Miss Willott.

Commenting, Jenny said:

"It is appalling that over three months after the Home Office announced it was cutting its funding for 101 pilots, they still haven't produced one iota of support or advice for local areas over how to continue 101 services.

"The 101 service 'toolkit' should have been produced when they announced the funding cut, giving support for the existing services and for those that might want to join them at this crucial time.

"This is yet another example of the Home Office's total abandonment of the 101 number, despite openly admitting that Cardiff, and other pilots, show the range of benefits 101 would bring if it were rolled out across the country."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

On 15th November, the Home Office announced that it would be withdrawing funding for the running of the 101 number pilots but that it would "encourage other areas to develop their own locally funded 101 services, informed by the lessons learnt from the live areas".